What a fantastic thread. Thanks to everyone for these insightful comments. I'd just like to throw in my two cents on a couple of points.

First off, I really don't think Marina Zoueva's choreo was that bad this year, although I will say I wasn't partial to any of the SD's her teams came out with. I thought D/W's FD was a total masterpiece, but felt that D/W lack of connection and refinement was what didn't make it work for me, not the choreo itself. Admittedly, V/M's Funny Face was no masterpiece, but when you look at the crop of hideous programs that popped up on the international circuit this season it still looks pretty good.We must also keep in mind that (as far as I understood) the issues with Tessa's legs forced them to modify a lot of their elements, which may have also been a contributing factor. And I didn't mind the Shibs program, but again I feel that the Shibs lack emotional/performance maturity, and that combined with the brother/sister thing makes it more difficult to choose a concept that works for them. I think we need to remember that she creates a large number of programs each season on top of her coaching responsibilities, and that it's impossible to expect every one to turn out to be a masteripiece. At the very least, you can say that her programs are always of good quality, even when they're not her absolute best work.

As for bronze at worlds this year, I felt it should have gone to W/P, but was not terribly surprised (or dissapointed, for that matter) to see it go to P/B. My main issue in all of this was that the difference between the two came down to PCS. If it had been the tech score, I think it would have been easier to swallow. I felt that W/P had better material and skated with more speed and expression, though I will admit that P/B had awesome lifts and probably have slightly better skating quality than the Canadians. Either way, what's done is done. I do feel, though, that W/P might establish themselves solidly as the world #3's as early as next season. They have made huge leaps in technique and performance, and there is nothing to suggest that the won't continue to improve. I think the polka will be extremely well suited for them (Kaitlyn has that sort of infectious enthusiasm that this type of program needs, and Andrew, I believe, has experince with folk dancing off the ice). I worry, though, about them having to follow up Je Suis Malade, which becamse such an iconic program with the fans. I have faith, though. Unlike past dissapointments, loosing the world bronze didn't seem to deflate Kaitlyn. I'm sure they were dissapointed, but they have really improved on their mental toughness, and seem to be cometing with a really fantastic attitude, so I have no doubt they'll come out on fire next season.

As for the I/K vs. B/S debate, I would have to go with I/K, simply because I feel they are better performers, and have more sensitivity towards the music. That being said, I find both teams to have really sloppy technique. Every element looks like a struggle to me. Furthermore, the choices of music and choreography have been horrible, particularly for I/K. I will never understand why their coaches feel it is appropriate to take a young, expressive team with obvious chemistry and weigh them down with heavy, dramatic music and overly angsty choreography. It doesn't show off any of their assets. I really, really hope that they see the light and move seomwhere else for training, or at least get some new choreographers.

As for the judging at Canadian nationals, I fear I might go into a fairly long rant here. It was an absolute joke. Aside for V/M and W/P, who were rightfully in the top two spots, the rest of the cometition was rediculous. I don't know what Skate Canada was trying to pull with Gilles/Poirier, but there was no way they should have even been fourth, let alone on the podium. They skated sloppily, there was tons of space between them, their FD basically consisted of them standing around making silly arm movements (sorry Christopher Dean) and Paul was so much stronger than Piper that it was actually painful to watch him drag her around. Their placement was a total slap in the face to Ralph/Hill, who in spite of some persistent technical issues, improved in leaps and bounds this season and skated the FD of their lives at Nationals. It was an even bigger slap in the face to Paul/Islam. And it's Paul/Islam that I worry will be the ones to suffer if Skate Canada continues to inexplicably hold G/P up. I realise that R/H beat P/I repeatedly this season, but given that they barely squeaked by them at nationals, I honestly don't see them doing this again if P/I come back next season helathy and with a full summer of training under their belts. Thus, I think it'll turn into P/I vs. G/P for that third worlds spot in the forseeable future (along with the third spot to Sochi), and P/I might end up loosing every time regardless of what they put out on the ice. Unfortunately, P/I's entire season was an absolute injury-filled nightmare, and they were horribly underprepared for every competition as a result. And their scores showed it. The problem there is that they created a buzz in 2010/2011, and then fell flat on their faces through no fault of their own trying to live up to it. I truly think these two are completely brilliant, and that they have the potential to be incredible, but they have almost zero competition experience, are virtually unknown outside of the country, and missing out on worlds repeatedly will, I fear, completely derail their career. The only hope here comes from the fact that Skate Canada chose to send them to 4CC even though they didn't earn the spot. That seems to indicate that SC has an idea of which team of the three has the highest scoring/placement potential outide of the country (when healthy, of course). That might also mean that next season, when G/P are actually elidgeable for worlds and 4CC, SC might think twice about holding up a team that would probably get absolutely decimated by an international pannel (unless they make drastic improvements) and let the skating determine the results.

For me, sometimes older programs are stronger or more interesting than current ones, even if the skating isn't as good; for instance, with P/B, I like some of their Lyon programs better than their later ones. It's true that skaters can grow as technicians and performers, but this doesn't mean that the programs are better, and I sometimes I wonder how skaters would interpret and perform their earlier efforts when they are further along in their careers.

Their programs were really bad for I&K i guess ISU needs to start the push now to position a russian team for the podium in Sochi, i don`t see any of their junior teams doing it saw the winning couple from junior worlds they looked pretty average to me.

The biggest story for me in ice dance this year was I&K's sudden elevation to 'striking position'. Was it a prophecy being fulfilled, or divine intervention because of their choice of music?

They moved up two spots at Worlds, where two of the teams that finished ahead of them last year made serious errors (the Shibs and B/S) and one spot at Euros - where the team that finished directly ahead of them in 2011 had retired (the Kerrs). So overall, I'd say they are making steady progress, not enjoying a sudden elevation. Last year they didn't quite live up to the buzz they generated as juniors, but they seem to be on the way up.

I don't like their programs much, and they still have work to do on the technical side, but they do show a lot of promise in the long-term. My guess is that the Russian fed decided to give itself more than one option going into Sochi. Next season will tell who will be the Russian no. 1s going into the Olympics.

On a more shallow note - Elena is stunning, which certainly doesn't hurt their marks.

That's what they always say--and they are very serious about it. Every year they have a serious list of things they are trying to improve, and that list starts with the judges' comments.

While it's definitely true that it's become their stock answer to the question, I did find Meryl's comment a little sharper then the generic platitudes they prefer (she's practically daring the judges to find something wrong with their skate).

Originally Posted by chuckm

I'd rather watch I/K than B/S any day. Both teams had bad programs, but bad programs plus poor posture is an awful combination.

Ehh, I/K's FD music was worse than B/S'. I think the best solution would be to watch I/K's FD with B/S's music in the background. There won't be much difference.

While it's definitely true that it's become their stock answer to the question, I did find Meryl's comment a little sharper then the generic platitudes they prefer (she's practically daring the judges to find something wrong with their skate).

How can you read such ridiculousness into a pretty standard skater comment after an event. Skaters like to get this kind of input from the judges regularly because it helps them to know what they need to be working on.

You seem to WANT at lot of drama here and you're prepared to twist things to that line of thinking at every turn. Skater focus on what they need to do, not what others are doing and none of them like to lose. That's how they became Champions in the first place. Just like Scott said after the GPF, whatever it takes, we'll do it. Meryl and Charlie want it just as bad as Scott and Tessa. That's what makes this rivalry the treat that it is. When one team loses they refocus and get ready for the next round.

I don't necessarily want a lot of drama. I won't deny my perception of Meryl colours my interpretation of this comment though. In context, I find this comment sharper than what they've said into the past.

they may want it just as bad, they are simply not as talented as Tessa and Scott, the judges have always prefered Virtue and Moir ever since they were juniors they have taken advantage of Tessa Virtue`s injuries enormously to close the gap both teams have now competed 6 times at worlds and Davis and white have never beaten them in either a CD or SD.

I was really impressed with the improvements D&W made this year, improving their matching lines, and the performance levels. They skated with such confidence. My first thought was that they had no intention of just handing the World Championship back to V&M and their win at the GPF pretty much confirmed it. It will be very interesting to see what happens with these two teams next year. It's fun having them so close together but nerve wracking.